Shoppers caught out as Kmart rolls out coin-operated trolleys across Brisbane

Kmart shoppers have been caught out as the retail giant rolls out coin operated trolleys, but we have a hack to help you avoid the charge. HAVE YOUR SAY

Shoppers were caught out by having to use a coin to access trolleys at a Kmart store in Brisbane, with one shopper revealing an Aldi hack she used to combat the move.

Kmart has started to roll out coin operated trolleys at select stores across Queensland, with the trolleys unlocked with a $1 or $2 coin which is given back to the customer once returned to a trolley bay.

It is understood that the roll out of coin operated trolleys by Kmart relates to councils implementing new requirements around trolley containment systems or initiatives led by the shopping centres where they have stores.

The introduction of the coin-operated trolley is intended to combat instances of trolley theft, trolley damage, and the abandonment of trolleys.

Recently, a trolley was spotted perched on top of a Kmart sign on the outside of a shopping centre complex.

A trolley on top of a Kmart sign. Photo: Isaac Sayal

Kmart stores where coin-operated trolleys have been spotted in South East Queensland include Capalaba, North Lakes, and Stafford.

It is understood a third of the 67 Kmart stores in Queensland have coin-operated trolleys.

Chained up coin-operated Kmart trolleys.

The Courier-Mail dropped by a Kmart store in Brisbane on Tuesday, where a staff member positioned at the front of the store was advising customers that they had to use money to unlock and use a trolley.

The same staff member advised customers that they would get their money back upon returning the trolley.

While there were some shoppers inside the store using a Kmart trolley, the majority of people in the store at the time weren’t.

There were some shoppers seen inside the Kmart store with a Woolworths trolley – which they don’t have to pay for – despite a large line up of Kmart trolleys sitting idle in the trolley bay.

There were other shoppers at the store who talked about “paying it forward” rather than making the effort to return the trolley and retrieve their gold coin.

In what is becoming an increasingly cashless society, with more people relying on their debit and credit cards for purchases, it can be seen as an inconvenience for some having to find a $1 or $2 coin to access a trolley.

While shoppers may be familiar with using a coin to access a trolley at Aldi, it is a relatively new concept at Kmart that has caught some off guard.

Michelle Bates from Hamilton said she was caught out by the coin operated system on the trolley and returned to the shops on Tuesday, when she lodged a complaint in store.

“I came with my sister-in-law yesterday (Monday), we came yesterday to buy things and we didn’t have any coins, we only had cards,” she said.

“So we had to then go home, get changed and come back to do shopping today.

“It really peeves me off and I just commented that they really need to have a token if they want to get the trolleys returned, but this is stupid.

“A lot of people don’t carry cash and certainly don’t have coins, so it does cause a problem.”

Michelle Bates from Hamilton said she was caught out by the coin operated system on the trolley.

Ms Bates believes customers shouldn’t have to pay to use a trolley.

“Seriously, if they want you to shop …. why would you be paying for a trolley?” she posed.

“I understand you get your money back, but it just doesn’t make sense to me.

“I’d much rather go in, grab my trolley and get on my way.

“In a hurry, I don’t want to be wasting time trying to find coins.”

Fiona Gerard of Ferny Hills was also caught out by the locked-up trolleys at the Kmart store and said she used an Aldi token she had on her to unlock the Kmart trolley.

“When I went in there I didn’t have any coins so I used my Aldi token,” she said.

“I noticed they were all locked up, so I was a bit surprised.

“I realised I had my Aldi token on my keys, so I just used that.

“(If I didn’t have the token) I would have had to run to the shops and get some change.

“That can be a bit of a nuisance sometimes even when you go into Aldi and you realise you don’t have your token so you have to carry all the things.”

Ms Gerard said she could understand why Kmart decided to install a coin-operated lock on their trolleys.

“I can understand them wanting to do it because of the theft of trolleys,” she said.

“I do see the side of it trying to stop trolley theft, but also it is a little bit inconvenient if you don’t have coins.”

Kate D from the Sunshine Coast was surprised to see all the trolleys chained together at Kmart.

Kate D from the Sunshine Coast said she was surprised to see all the trolleys chained together at Kmart.

“I was a little bit surprised because it hadn’t happened before,” she said.

“I just went in there and they were all chained together

“You don’t always have money on you to put in the slot.

“Personally, I think that big multi-corporations get enough money of everyone, I think they can give a trolley for nothing.

“You shouldn’t have to pay for a trolley.”

A Kmart spokeswoman said there are no plans to widely roll these out to other stores, other than on a case-by-case basis.

For any stores that get coin operated trolleys there is signage to notify customers that the change is coming and post implementation.

If you have spotted an abandoned trolley, you can report an abandoned trolley to Kmart at any time by calling 1800 876 553.

Reported trolleys will be collected within 24 hours.

Originally published as Shoppers caught out as Kmart rolls out coin-operated trolleys across Brisbane